Do you see the benefit of changing my major?

[CleverThought]

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Hey guys!

I'm currently a nursing major and I had originally thought that if I had changed my major I would be behind a year. But I talked to a few psychology majors and they all say that the schedule allows for a lot of room for electives. So I think it would be do-able, and probably a little easier than doing nursing with dental pre-reqs.

The only reason I'm kinda thinking of holding on to nursing is I could have a job on the weekends during DS. If I work weekend option during DS I will make $50k-60k a year. Even if I don't do weekend option I could pick up a shift or so part-time and make some sort of income

So, would you pick the major that allows you to fit in the pre-reqs a little easier or pick the major where you can still get the pre-reqs in and also have a source of income during DS?

 

[MAR89]

Fitting in predent prereqs really isn't that difficult, regardless of the curriculum. I'm not really familiar with the nursing curricilum, but if it's like most other majors, you really shouldn't have a problem fitting in the prereqs all the while fulfilling the major requirements.

If your really like nursing, or feel that it'll help a lot in lightening the financial burden of dschool, stick with it! Don't let the prereqs dictate your undergrad experience.

 

[chippy]

I'm pretty sure that its is very very very discouraged to try to work during dental school. And I don't think you would want to anyway. Dental school is serious stuff, you're going to need your weekends to study and keep your sanity. I guess I'm not really sure why you're doing nursing at all if you want to be a dentist.

 

[doc toothache]

I'm currently a nursing major and I had originally thought that if I had changed my major I would be behind a year. But I talked to a few psychology majors and they all say that the schedule allows for a lot of room for electives. So I think it would be do-able, and probably a little easier than doing nursing with dental pre-reqs.
The only reason I'm kinda thinking of holding on to nursing is I could have a job on the weekends during DS. If I work weekend option during DS I will make $50k-60k a year. Even if I don't do weekend option I could pick up a shift or so part-time and make some sort of income

What will you be doing with a psych degree should ds not be in the cards? That's some pretty good money for weekend work. Are you sure you didn't miscalculate your potential earnings? Good luck finding time during ds to work on weekends especially in the pre clinical phase.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=701115

 

[CleverThought]

Thanks guys! To answer some questions

I'm in NS because I thought I really wanted to be a nurse, but now I work at a hospital and really don't like the nursing role. I love the pt interaction of it, but nursing is not for me.

What will I do with a psych major if DS doesn't work out? Well, I'm already accepted into a DS. I got a deferred admission to U of Iowa. So as long as I maintain a 3.6/3.5 sGPA and get at least a 17 on all DAT sections I'm in.

Is that a miscalculation? No, weekend option nurses get paid more per hour than regular weekday nurses. And although they don't work 40 hours, they get payed as if they did. Working weekends gets lots of benefits in the hospital world.

In reference where it's not hard to fit in pre-reqs, it kind of is difficult. I'll have some semesters where I'll be picking up 19 credits because the nursing load is heavy + taking a chem or physics class. Plus when you do 12 hour clinicals 2x a week, it's hard to fit in classes. But I've made a academic plan where it can fit in and is do-able, just a little hectic.

Yes, I know working is discouraged in the first 2 years, but if I keep up my license I can pick up weekend option during the years where I can work. Or maybe I could do home health, where I would still have quite a bit of 'down time' and it would be more of a companionship role with nursing duties mixed in. This would result in a lower salary, but a lot of nurses who are getting their NP or CRNA work in home health because it allows for study time.

 

[bing12]

well i see no advantage to switching out of nursing. if you already have an acceptance, and you only need a 17 in each section, and I am assuming as long as you dont terrible in your nursing courses( assuming you have a great gpa), then your in correct? If so, then I say stick to nursing.

 

[youknowthedrill]

So, you have to keep a 3.6 GPA to keep your D-school acceptance? If you think you can juggle the nursing curriculum and pre-reqs, then stay with nursing. But if you think there's a chance you might slip up and lose your acceptance, switch majors ASAP. Before you make a decision, be sure dentistry is the career you truly want. You shouldn't work every weekend while you're in dental school. Working as a nurse over a summer break or working a couple of shifts a month may be manageable. Don't try to work every weekend or you'll wear yourself out.

 

[doc toothache]

What will I do with a psych major if DS doesn't work out? Well, I'm already accepted into a DS. I got a deferred admission to U of Iowa. So as long as I maintain a 3.6/3.5 sGPA and get at least a 17 on all DAT sections I'm in.

Is that a miscalculation? No, weekend option nurses get paid more per hour than regular weekday nurses. And although they don't work 40 hours, they get payed as if they did. Working weekends gets lots of benefits in the hospital world.

Getting paid for 40 hours even though you work only say 16? That's some generous hospital! Some dentists might want to reconsider their career choice. Is there a chance you might change your mind about dentistry as you apparently have done with nursing?

 

[reve]

I'd disagree that switching your major may put you behind; you might find nursing will put you even MORE behind. Are you currently a rising junior, (i.e., you haven't started your nursing classes yet?). If so, I'd encourage you to contemplate the switch because I doubt that things are going to work as you think.

I was in finance; my world began to collapse and I needed to find a practical way out while I completed pre-reqs and went to school. I attended an evening program to become a RN and transitioned out of the marketplace; I've been working as a RN while I finished all my classes, shadowed, saved $, etc. I generally work in ER or surg.

Nursing classes are a lot more than clinicals. Clinicals are energy zappers with never-ending drug cards, care plans and nonsense. As a new nursing student, you'll also have workshops, lab time and check-offs, all which are in addition to your lectures and clinicals. Not to mention - your GPA may suffer, even as a great student. You'll learn reams and reams of information but as you build knowledge, it becomes less about recall and more of judgment, prioritization, delegation and critical thinking. Tests are funny - you'll see what I mean.

If I could go back, I'd become a surg tech instead. LOL

As a new RN, you'll need to orient - 12+ weeks of full time work regardless of your hiring schedule at the unit's convenience, (you'll be following your preceptor's schedule). They may not choose to work with your available schedule; them's the breaks. Figure that for the first year - if you land a job in acute care, which is really tough right now in many parts of the country - you'll be on a fairly steep learning curve trying to get the hang of things. It's the same for everyone; you'll be a new nurse and it'll show. It'll take you that year (or more) to get comfortable and safe enough to leave the hospital for home care, same day surg or ambulatory...the flexible schedule you're hoping for with a good wage.

The Baylor shifts you're talking about are on their way out. I know of very few facilities who offer them now and they usually aren't hiring new folks onto them. Also gone are sign-ons and bonuses, unless you're in east bumble. Unless you're in the south - or in rural parts elsewhere - there is no shortage and many areas are flooded with experienced RNs.

Unless you want to be a nurse, you're taking the long way 'round. Sure, the money is okay (wait till it's you, and we'll see if you think so) but the shifts aren't predictable, your job description can change (wait till you float to other floors, what joy) and available hours can dry up. Think about it.

Good luck.

 

[CleverThought]

Getting paid for 40 hours even though you work only say 16? That's some generous hospital! Some dentists might want to reconsider their career choice. Is there a chance you might change your mind about dentistry as you apparently have done with nursing?

Not 16 necessarily. You pull double shifts (16 hrs) so you work 2 16hr days/week

I don't think I will be changing my mind. I suppose it could be possible, but I was a lot more thorough in making my decision. With nursing, I had no true concept of what the nurses role was. Once I started working in the hospital I immediately knew it wasn't the career for me.

So, I looked within and really tried to figure out what I wanted to do. Many thought the transition from nursing to MD/DO would have been the appropriate choice. I had no real interest, but I shadowed. Wasn't for me.

I always had an interest in dentistry, but didn't know what it entailed beyond my dental exams. So, I put in some hours shadowing. I loved it. I could picture myself doing this for the rest of my working life.

To make sure, I also shadowed other health areas. I shadowed a PT, chiropractor, and pharmacist. None of them clicked like dentistry did.

So, I suppose I could change my mind, but I approached this the best way I knew how to ensure this was the right choice for me.

 

[setupben]

I don't think it is possible to work during your first 2 years of dental school. You will be much to busy to even thinking of doing something like that. You need the weekends to study, do lab work, and de-stress.

But if you are passionate about nursing I would finish that major. Being a nurse would be very valuable in dental school and after. You would have patient interaction experience, emergency medical experience, charting experience, etc... I think it would a great combo. Plus, your major will set you apart during interviews and applying.

 

[yappy]

You will also have alot of career options if you're interested in higher education as a nurse. You can go DDS if you've done the prereqs after your nursing degree; but you can also look into CRNA, NP-psych, family NP, etc.

For better or worse the ANA has slowly began to take over medicine. With a 4 year RN degree you will have all those options.

 

[UCLAzy]

OP, i think you should make friends with some D1 and D2 students [that is, if you can find any that have time to talk to you].

i dont know how they do it at your school..but at my alma mater you just dont see dental students. why? because after their 8-5 day of classes they all go home and study. mind you, this is with a pass/fail system.

it's a whole different beast, dental school.